bend

bend / bend/ • v. (past bent / bent/ ) 1. [tr.] shape or force (something straight) into a curve or angle: the rising wind bent the long grass. ∎  [intr.] (of something straight) be shaped or forced into a curve or angle: the oar bent as Lance heaved angrily at it. ∎ fig. force or be forced to submit: [tr.] they want to bend me to their will [intr.] a refusal to bend to mob rule. ∎  [intr.] (of a road, river, or path) deviate from a straight line in a specified direction; have a sharply curved course: the road bent left and then right. 2. [intr.] (of a person) incline the body downward from the vertical: he bent down and picked her up I bent over my plate. ∎  [tr.] move (a jointed part of the body) to an angled position: extend your left leg and bend your right. 3. [tr.] interpret or modify (a rule) to suit oneself or somebody else: we cannot bend the rules, even for Darren. 4. [tr.] direct or devote (one's attention or energies) to a task: Eric bent all his efforts to persuading them to donate some blankets. • n. 1. a curve, esp. a sharp one, in a road, river, racecourse, or path. 2. a curved or angled part or form of something: making a bend in the wire. 3. a kind of knot used to join two ropes, or to tie a rope to another object, e.g. a carrick bend. 4. (the bends) decompression sickness, esp. in divers. PHRASES: bend someone's ear inf. talk to someone, esp. with great eagerness or in order to ask a favor: she regularly bent Michael's ear with her problems. bend one's elbow drink alcohol. bend one's (or the) knee fig. submit: a country no longer willing to bend its knee to foreign powers. bend over backwardsee backward. on bended knee (or knees) kneeling, esp. when pleading or showing great respect. around the bend inf. crazy; insane: I'd tell you if you were going around the bend. DERIVATIVES: bend·a·ble adj. bend² • n. Heraldry an ordinary in the form of a broad diagonal stripe from top left (dexter chief) to bottom right (sinister base) of a shield or part of one.